Supporting Ethernet Transport Services

Over the last few years Ethernet technology, and services based on Ethernet technology have emerged as an indispensable component of the broadband networking and telecommunications industry, for either network operators or service providers. As an example, worldwide enterprise customer demand for Ethernet Services by itself if forecast to hit the $30B US mark by year 2012 [1]. Use of Ethernet technology in the feeder networks that support residential applications, such as "triple or quadruple play" voice, data and video services, is equaly on the rise. As the synergies between packet-aware transport and service equipment continue to be exploited in the path toward transport convergence, [2] Ethernet technology is well positioned to play a critical part in the evolution towards a converged Optical/Packet Transport infrastructure.